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INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
The Commonwealth relationship between Puerto Rico and the
United States was established through bilateral agreement between
the people of Puerto Rico and the Congress of the United States.
Through Congressional enactment of Public Law 600, 81st Con-
1950, section 4 of which constitutes the Puerto Rican
gress, Federal Relations Act, and through the acceptance of that law, in
referendum, by the Puerto Rican electorate, and further through
the adoption of a constitution of their own choosing, a new form
of Federal association, in the nature of a compact, was created
between the United States and Puerto Rico. The crucial aspect of
this process was its mutual acceptance by the electorate of Puerto
Rico and by the Congress of the United States.
In the establishment of Commonwealth there was a further
departure from the concepts traditionally leading to statehood, as
in the case of Hawaii, or to independence, as in the case of the
Phillippines. It was the intention of the Congress of the United
States and of the people of Puerto Rico that the Commonwealth
relationship be open-ended; it could continue indefinitely, it could
improve or it could be changed. It was clearly understood that
Commonwealth was not to be envisioned as an interim step
pointing either towards statehood or towards independence. A
future decision by the people of Puerto Rico and the Congress of
the United States could create a different political status.
However, Commonwealth was understood to constitute a
legitimate status, valid in and of itself.
During the years since the inception of Commonwealth,
prolonged debate has continued among the people of Puerto Rico
regarding its future growth. Therefore, it was appropriate, through
these intervening years, that the people of Puerto Rico initiate
discussions with the Federal Government concerning the further
growth of Commonwealth. Significant forward steps in these
1
Document source description
This file contains a published report of the Ad hoc Advisory Group on Puerto Rico.
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"ocrText": "INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND\nThe Commonwealth relationship between Puerto Rico and the\nUnited States was established through bilateral agreement between\nthe people of Puerto Rico and the Congress of the United States.\nThrough Congressional enactment of Public Law 600, 81st Con-\n1950, section 4 of which constitutes the Puerto Rican\ngress, Federal Relations Act, and through the acceptance of that law, in\nreferendum, by the Puerto Rican electorate, and further through\nthe adoption of a constitution of their own choosing, a new form\nof Federal association, in the nature of a compact, was created\nbetween the United States and Puerto Rico. The crucial aspect of\nthis process was its mutual acceptance by the electorate of Puerto\nRico and by the Congress of the United States.\nIn the establishment of Commonwealth there was a further\ndeparture from the concepts traditionally leading to statehood, as\nin the case of Hawaii, or to independence, as in the case of the\nPhillippines. It was the intention of the Congress of the United\nStates and of the people of Puerto Rico that the Commonwealth\nrelationship be open-ended; it could continue indefinitely, it could\nimprove or it could be changed. It was clearly understood that\nCommonwealth was not to be envisioned as an interim step\npointing either towards statehood or towards independence. A\nfuture decision by the people of Puerto Rico and the Congress of\nthe United States could create a different political status.\nHowever, Commonwealth was understood to constitute a\nlegitimate status, valid in and of itself.\nDuring the years since the inception of Commonwealth,\nprolonged debate has continued among the people of Puerto Rico\nregarding its future growth. Therefore, it was appropriate, through\nthese intervening years, that the people of Puerto Rico initiate\ndiscussions with the Federal Government concerning the further\ngrowth of Commonwealth. Significant forward steps in these\n1"
}